Regions of serious water deficit such as the Middle East became so in about 1970, at a favourable moment for them in economic history.

ECONOMIST: Intelligent communication

Water-deficit economies avoid the stress of mobilising freshwater when they import staple grains.

ECONOMIST: Intelligent communication

Deficit water scenarios in the Bigger Antilles.

UNESCO: Publicaciones

But Democrats were nervous about repaying such a bond out of general taxes in a state careening from one budget deficit to another, whereas Republicans balked at making farmers and water districts pay.

ECONOMIST: Water in California

The overthrow of three men does not change the basic dilemmas faced by the Arab world: illiteracy, unemployment, a youth bulge (the United Nations estimates that Arab countries will need 50 million new jobs by 2020), chronic water shortages, a lack of women's rights, the legacy of the "freedom deficit" -- to which perhaps add now a burgeoning crisis of expectations.

CNN: Gadhafi's demise and the Arab Spring

The ball ended up in the water, and by the time he walked off the green his one shot lead had become a one-shot deficit.

WSJ: Masters, Adam Scott: Australia Conquers Augusta